IT is unusual that mountain rescue teams meet those who they have rescued after the event.
On January 21, Teesdale and Weardale Search and Mountain Rescue Team (TWSMRT) were on a training exercise in Weardale, when we received a call for assistance from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) .
The call was for a gentleman who had collapsed on the Pennine Way, south of Cronkley Farm and due to the weather and winter conditions the ambulance personnel couldn’t get to the patient.
We ended our exercise and dispatched one of our Land-rovers with four team members, which included two with casualty care experience, while the rest of the team were recalled from the exercise, and sent to the incident.
After a demanding drive due to the weather conditions from Weardale to Teesdale, we left our vehicle and walked to Cronkley Farm and the Pennine Way.
We found Alan Charlton and his companions, south of the farm on the Pennine Way. They had done a superb job of keeping him as warm as possible, especially as the conditions would have rapidly led to him becoming hypothermic, without the care given.
He was assessed by one of the team casualty carers, and evacuated by stretcher to the waiting road ambulance.
Mr Charlton is lead volunteer at Darlington Memorial Hospital’s, Friends of the hospital, and wanted to meet some of the team, who were involved in his rescue.
Pete Bell deputy team leader, said: “Having been involved in Mr Charlton’s rescue it was good to meet him again and see he is fit and well.
“This was an excellent example of mountain rescue working with our partner agencies.”
Scott Bissett
